AFL superstar Dustin Martin’s bikie father died alone of a heart attack while pumped up on animal steroids, Daily Mail Australia can reveal.
Shane ‘Kiwi’ Martin, 54, was found dead facedown on the floor of his bedroom in Mt Maunganui, 200km south-east of Auckland, in December.
The official cause of death of the Richmond hero’s dad remained a mystery for months pending a post mortem and two detailed toxicology reports.
Daily Mail Australia has obtained a copy of the coroner’s findings, which reveal his final moments and the cocktail of prescription drugs discovered nearby.
It found he died of cardiovascular disease but was a steroid user who was also taking anti-depressants after he was kicked out of Australia and kept apart from his son.
AFL superstar Dustin Martin’s bikie father Shane Martin died alone of a heart attack while pumped up on animal steroids
Shane ‘Kiwi’ Martin, 54, was found dead facedown on the bedroom floor of his home in Mt Maunganui, 200km south-east of Auckland, New Zealand, last December
Martin was a senior member of the Rebels bikie gang in Sydney, but was deported to New Zealand in 2016 on ‘bad character’ grounds, despite living most of his adult life in Australia.
He was heartbroken at being cut off from his son Dustin, 31, who was unable to visit him in New Zealand at the time of his death because of Covid travel restrictions.
An initial blood toxicology investigation in March found traces of the anti-depressant drug Amitriptyline which was ‘consistent with normal use’, said the coroner’s report.
It also found traces of another anti-depressant Nortriptyline, as well as caffeine and theobromine, but there was no sign of alcohol or any cannabis-related substances.
However two months later, a second toxicology report ordered for further checks on a urine sample revealed Martin’s steroid use.
‘There was evidence in the urine for the use of the steroids trenbolone and nandrolone,’ the coroner’s report said.
‘Trenbolone is used on livestock to promote muscle growth and appetite. Nandrolone are anabolic steroids.’
The coroner said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
An autopsy found clear evidence of heart disease blocking his arteries and swelling his thickening heart to twice its normal size, sparking his fatal heart attack.
The post mortem revealed he suffered ‘occlusive coronary atherosclerotic disease and anterior interventricular septal fibrosis’ of his heart, which weighed 600g, compared to the healthy man’s average of 280-312g.
Shane Martin died of cardiovascular disease and was a steroid user who was also taking medication for depression after he was kicked out of Australia and kept apart from his son
Friend Scott Williams arrived at Shane Martin’s home at 1.30pm and found his lifeless body
He also suffered from painful Crohn’s Disease, a debilitating inflammatory bowel condition, and was taking azathioprine to treat it, which was found in his kitchen along with his anti-depressant medication.
On the day of his death, Martin was said to have complained of a searing headache to a female friend as he drank a cup of tea with her around 9.30am.
He said he’d taken painkillers and his friend made him a coffee and breakfast before leaving him just as another friend arrived to take him shopping.
The friend returned Martin to his home around midday which was the last time he was seen alive.
Another friend, Scott Williams, arrived around 1.30pm to find Martin’s body in the bedroom.
Shane Martin (centre) also suffered from painful Crohn’s Disease, a debilitating inflammatory bowel condition, and was taking azathioprine to treat it along with his anti-depressants
Martin was a senior member of the Rebels bikie gang in Sydney, but was deported back to New Zealand in 2016 on ‘bad character’ grounds, despite living most of his adult life in Australia
‘Mr Williams called the emergency services and while waiting for an ambulance he began CPR,’ said the report by New Zealand coroner Bruce Hesketh.
‘The ambulance crew arrived a short time later and took over resuscitation efforts which they continued for 40 minutes. However, Mr Martin could not be revived.
‘Verification of death was signed by attending St John Ambulance crew. Formal identification was signed by Mr Williams who had known the deceased for six years.’
The coroner ruled out a full inquiry as he said he and police were satisfied there were ‘no suspicious or untoward circumstances surrounding this death’.
His death came just weeks after he was accused of punching and strangling a model while calling her a ‘sl**’ and a ‘w***e’ in a steroid-induced rage.
Shane Martin was facing charges for violently attacking a woman, 49, (pictured) in her bedroom at the time of his death
Martin was arrested last October after allegedly punching the woman in the face, throwing her around her own bedroom, and squeezing her neck while slinging insults.
Detectives later raided his holiday rental property and found empty steroid vials – which he admitted to using in an effort to enhance his performance at the gym.
He pleaded not guilty to charges of male assaults female, strangulation and burglary in Tauranga District Court in November. Martin also denied illegally obtaining the steroids.
According to court documents, Martin had been in an ‘intermittent relationship’ with the woman since 2020 when he used a spare key to enter her Mt Maunganui home at 2am on October 23.
The mother, 49, who Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to name, lived alone and had been out socialising with friends when she came home to find Martin in her bed.
Martin ignored her request for him to leave and started accusing her of ‘f***ing around’, ‘w***ing around’, and calling her a ‘sl**’.
He then allegedly threw her around the bedroom, punched her in the face and cut her lip, bit her finger, and grabbed her around the neck – ‘squeezing, but not sufficiently for her to lose consciousness,’ court documents say.
Martin admitted letting himself into her home using a key hidden outside, and having a ‘heated argument’ when she arrived home.
But he insisted he would never hurt her. Martin, who ran a New Zealand trucking business, died a month after facing court over the charges.
Shane Martin’s heartbroken son Dustin Martin (pictured) last saw his father in April 2021 because of the Covid restrictions
The body of former Rebels bikie boss Shane Martin (pictured in Auckland with Australian actress Rachel Griffiths) was found in his bedroom a week before Christmas
Triple Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin had been unable to fly over to New Zealand to see his father since April 2021 because of the Covid restrictions.
‘It’s been a massive challenge, but it is what it is,’ Dustin said in March 2021 before the domestic violence allegations against his father were made public.
‘I love my dad and he’s made me the man I am today.’
Shane’s final attempt to return to Australian ended in frustration when he was held at Sydney Airport by Australian Border Force in February 2020 before he was sent home again.
‘It s***s me that you can’t keep in contact with people who have been a big part of your life,’ he fumed.
‘I met some really good, respectful people, I don’t regret it. It sort of annoys me how people look down on bikies, or clubbies. They do have morals, respect and loyalty.
‘They respect what I’m fighting for and vice versa.’
He had to watch his son win in Richmond Tigers’ 2019 and 2020 grand final victories on television from New Zealand after a bid to fly over was thwarted.
‘It’s pretty hard to see it on TV when I should be there, really, but that’s another story,’ he said in 2020.
‘It’s still a proud moment but I would have loved to be there, but yeah, you know, it is what it is, don’t want to take the moment away from it.’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk